Ground-effect vehicle



Oct. 25, 1966 N. E. LEGGETT GROUND-EFFECT VEHICLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledAug. 18, 1964 INVENTOR 03 2M ATTORNEYS Max 04 405 5. 45661577 Oct. 25,1966 N- E; LEGGETT 5,280,930

GROUND-EFFECT VEHICLE Filed Aug. 18, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORNICAOLAUJ 1 1566577.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,280,930 GROUND-EFFECT VEHICLE NickolausE. Leggett, 44 W. 77th St., New York, N.Y. Filed Aug. 18, 1964, Ser. No.390,346 Claims. (Cl. 180-7) This invention relates to ground-effectvehicles and more particularly to vehicles which are supported above theground by means of a low pressure free air cushion generated by a fanmounted in the vehicle on an axis perpendicular to the ground.

Propulsion and directional control of ground-effect machines arenormally provided by mechanism outside the confines of the machineitself while suspension of the vehicle is afforded by components withinthe vehicle which cause a directed air flow downwardly therethrough toform a cushion or pad beneath the vehicle which sup ports the latter infrictionless, spaced relation with the ground.

According to the present invention both the means for creating thedownward draft and the means for affording propulsion and directionalcontrol are disposed within the vehicle. In general this is achieved bystationing a device in the air stream which will as a consequence of itsown shape or motion create a differential pressure eifect on two sidesthereof suflicient to cause motion and by either orienting or shieldingthe device as by deflectors produce the desired steering torque.

One object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedground-eflect machine.

Another object of the device is to provide a groundeflect machine havinginternal component to establish its propulsion and steering forces.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of thischaracter with a stationary air foil disposed in the air stream andinternal means to provide steering control.

Other objects and advantages of the invention may be appreciated onreading the following description of one embodiment of the inventionwhich is taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an illustration of one embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a section taken on line 22 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a section taken on line 33 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a section taken on line 44 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 5 shows a modified embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 6 is a section taken on the line 66 of FIG- URE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a section taken on the line 77 of FIG- URE 5;

FIGURE 8 is a section taken on line 8-8 of FIG- URE 9 showing anothermodified version of the ground eifect vehicle which is a torquecontrolled device;

FIGURE 9 is a section taken on the line 99 of FIG- URE 8.

Referring to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated the usualground effect machine 10 having a vertical cylindrical tunnel portion 12and depending nozzle section 14 which contain a peripheral annulus 16 tojet the air into the space defined by the ground and the base of thevehicle.

In the top portion 12 is provided the usual fan or propeller 18 and anair foil 20 structurally mounted on a rotatable ring 21 within themachine. The ring is supported in annular tracks 22 and 23 and operatedfrom the cabin 24 by means of pinion 25 which is in engagement with ringgear 26 affixed to the inner surface of the ring 21. The foil 20 issimilar in shape to an airplane wing with a flat forward surface 27 andconvex surface 28. Also mounted on the ring above the air foil is adeflector 30 secured to pinion 32 engaging ring gear 34 slidablysupported on the ring 21 and turned by pinion 36. The deflector servesas an air flow spoiler above the air foil to control the flow in theregion of the foil and hence to control the propulsion force generatedby the foil in accordance with the set position of the deflector. It canbe seen that by orienting the air foil in the desired direction oftravel the resultant force of propulsion acting on the foil will affordsteering control. Clutch 37 may be used to declutch pinion 25 whendeflector 30 is being positioned. The force may be modulated by thesingle deflector 30 which may be turned to a horizontal position toeliminate it entirely when no propulsion is desired. Supplementalsteering may be supplied by rudder 38 acted on by air flow through thescoop 40.

As shown in FIGURES 8 and 9, two deflectors 42 and 44 are mounted uponconcentric shafts 46 and 48 respectively above stationary air foil 20which is structurally attached directly to the vehicle. The deflectorsare independently controlled by rack and pinion drives 52 and 54. Thetwo deflectors extend together the entire width of the foil'and are usedto control the velocity of flow past each half of the foil, as desired,to effect a torque control on the foil by operating one or bothdeflectors. In addition turning torque will be afforded as a consequenceof the reactive forces of the air flow on the deflectors themselves.

As shown in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 the air foil 20 is disposed within an airduct 56 at the top of which are sta tioned two pairs of opposing,deflectors 58, 60, and 62, 64, the deflectors 60 and 64 and thedeflectors 58 and 62 being mounted on coaxial shafts and extending theentire width of the foil 20. Each pair of opposing deflectors has itsown rack and pinion control operable independently of the other pair.Pinions 66 and 68 carried by opposing deflectors 58 and 60,respectively, engage rack 70 on opposite faces while pinions 72 and 74supported by opposing deflectors 62 and 64, respectively, engage rack 76on their opposite faces. The deflectors can be employed to shut off theair flow past the foil and effectively prevent any propulsive force fromdeveloping. The deflectors can also be used to afford turning torque asdesired as well as to control the amount of propulsion force on thefoil.

Various modifications of the invention may be effected by personsskilled in the art without departing from the scope and principle of theinvention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a ground-effect vehicle, means for producing a suspensory air flowtherewithin and an air foil disposed within the vehicle and in the pathof said flow, said air foil having opposing surfaces of diflerentcontours, the forward contoured surface having a greater convexity thanits opposing surface, said forward contoured surface being at least inpart disposed across the air stream, whereby propulsion forces due toBernoulli effect are established within the vehicle, at least one airflow deflector stationed in the air flow above the air foil androtatably mounted to control the flow about said foil.

2. In a ground-effect vehicle as defined in claim 1 in which there is anair duct, said foil being disposed in said duct and said deflector beingarranged to close off the flow within said duct.

3. In a ground-effect vehicle as defined in claim 2 in which there is anair duct, said foil being disposed in said duct, at least two pairs ofopposing deflectors in said vehicle arranged to control the air flowpast said foil,

each pair of deflectors being operatively independent of the other.

4. In a ground-effect vehicle as defined in claim 1 in which there is aplurality of rotatable deflectors together extending the entire width ofsaid air foil, said deflectors being operatively independent.

5. In a ground-effect vehicle, means for producing a suspensory air flowtherewithin and an air foil disposed within the vehicle and in the pathof said flow, said air foil having opposing surfaces of differentcontours, the forward contoured surface having a greater convexity thanits opposing surface, said forward contoured surface being at least inpart disposed across the air stream, whereby propulsion forces due toBernoulli effect are established within the vehicle at least one airflow deflector stationed in the air flow above the air foil androtatably mounted to control the flow about said foil, a rotatable ringstaa tioned in said vehicle said non-rotative ail foil and deflectorbeing mounted in said ring and oriented thereby for directing theresultant force of propulsion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,184,183 5/1965Piasecki 244-23 BENJAMIN HERSH, Primary Examiner.

M. S. SALES, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A GROUND-EFFECT VEHICLE, MEANS FOR PRODUCING A SUSPENSORY AIR FLOWTHEREWITHIN AND AN AIR FOIL DISPOSED WITHIN THE VEHICLE AND IN THE PATHOF SAID FLOW, SAID AIR FOIL HAVING OPPOSING SURFACES OF DIFFERENTCONTOURS, THE FORWARD CONTOURED SURFACE HAVING A GREATER CONVEXITY THANITS OPPOSING SURFACE, SAID FORWARD CONTOURED SURFACE BEING AT LEAST INPART DISPOSED ACROSS THE AIR STREAM, WHEREBY PROPULSION FORCES DUE TOBERNOULLI EFFECT ARE